SWOT analysis of Batsman (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats of Batsman):

It is very important to understand Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats from a batsman perspective. This we can call as SWOT of a batsman. SWOT can help:

1. Understanding batsman capability by scoring regions on the field

2. Understanding batsman strokes on the field

3. Understanding batsman dismissals by category

All these can be done with the nature and type of bowling attack under consideration.

Advantages of SWOT:

One can understand the strength and weakness of batsman in-terms of scoring, strokes and dismissals. This can help

1. Batsman to improve his playing strategy

2. Opposition to fine tune bowling and fielding tactics

COMPARISON OF PLAYERS in-terms of MEAN, MEDIAN, MODE AND STANDARD DEVIATION

Lets us consider previous example and see how we can compare 2 batsmen (Player A and Player B) based on mean, median, mode and standard deviation

	Player A	Player B
Mean Score	20.57	20.57
Median Score	20	24
Mode Score	20-24	25-29
Standard Deviation of Player	14.47	5.31

Traditionally cricket statistics will tell Player A and Player B are same because batting average (Mean score) is same. However data shows that Player B has higher Median and Mode score compared to Player A. Also Standard deviation of player A is 3 times as much as Player B, showing that Player B is more consistent.

Using these statistics we can conclude Player B is better in-terms of consistency and performance.

What is Cricmetrics and why do we need it ?

I have been an analytics professional for over 5 years now. I have seen how analytics and metrics have redefined the businesses. Thomas Davenport talks about this exciting area in his new bookhttp://www.amazon.com/Competing-Analytics-New-Science-Winning/dp/1422103323

Cricket has been a favorite sport for Indians and many other Asian countries. Of course we have countries like Australia, NZ, England, West Indies, South Africa and many more countries into this sport for quite sometime.

Statistics have been used for quite sometime in cricket. For example, metrics like batting averages, strike rate all describe the ability of batsman or his behaviour in some sense. Now the point is that can we take this analysis to next level to answer questions like?

1. What can increase the probability of a Team winning?

2. What is optimum mix of Team given opposition and pitch conditions?

3. Are there better metrics to measure batsman and bowlers?

Understanding the game and players with better metrics can not only help the teams to win games but also the Leagues like IPL, ICL, etc to evaluate player for the price they pay and measure the RoI (Return on Investment).

In the next 10 years, analytics and statistics will be extensively used in cricket to measure player, team, and league performances. It will help clubs to reduce costs and increase their win rates. Very soon every league will have experienced analytical consultant (who understand statistics with cricket) to make team strategy and effect the outcome of games.

Welcome to the world of cricmetrics. According to me cricmetrics is a science of using mathematical and statistical analysis of cricket records. For example it can help us to understand players, teams and environment like pitches, effect of day Vs night games, Spinners Vs Pacers, what player is suited in what kind of roles, how to bowl to the weakness of a player, etc.

Currently on-field captain has to make many decisions but very often we see small mistakes can make big difference. For instance bowling change depending on opposition batsman & condition of match (pitch, over being played etc) can give captains great insights to take a right decision.

So welcome to this world of cricmetrics where i plan to discuss variety of analytical applications in cricket. I want all viewers to add their thoughts, so that it can refine my ideas in this exciting field cricket!

Keep checking this space for exciting metrics and analytics on cricket :). Feedbacks is what can take this science to new level :)